October 8, 2024

Williamstown parish holds groundbreaking for renovation project

REGIONAL
Staff report

WILLIAMSTOWN – After the 10:30 a.m. Mass Sunday, Sept. 22, Father John McDonagh, pastor of Saints Patrick and Raphael Parish, led a prayer service before a groundbreaking ceremony. The parish is embarking on a renovation project for the front entry. The long-awaited project will include new front doors which will be named after Father Bill Cyr, in honor of his 50^th anniversary to the priesthood. The new white oak doors will replicate the design of the original doors of the church.

“The parishioners wanted to salute Father Cyr with a memorable physical gift. The fundraising committee embraced an idea to memorialize the new white oak wooden church doors as the ‘Fr Bill Cyr Church Doors,’ as Father Cyr opened doors for many of us throughout decades of priestly ministry,” said Father McDonagh.

The project, which had been in the works for a few years, will be funded in part by the parish’s Beacon of Faith Campaign.

“The scope of the work began by consideration of reconfiguring the entry to promote universal access to the church. The building committee developed its thinking to also enhance the exterior beauty of the church in keeping with the bishops’ document ‘Built of Sacred Stones.’ The document encourages hardscape and landscape that fosters contemplation as one approaches the sacred space of worship. The building committee responded to the document by coming up with the plans for the new church entry,” he explained. “The central doors of the church will be equipped with automatic door openers for improved access.”

Father McDonagh said the theme for the ceremony was based on Psalm 127, “Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain do the builders labor…”

“We prayed that we would build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ,” he said.

The children of the parish also took turns putting shovels in the ground.

“It was very appropriate that the young people be involved in the groundbreaking as Sts. Patrick and Raphael is ‘their church.’ They feel at home through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an effort Bishop Byrne suggested. The Catechesis attracts both the students and their parents. As parents tell me, they (their children) want to come to church school. The youngsters are also involved in the liturgy as servers and assisting in the offertory procession by bringing up the gifts including the bagged collection,” said Father McDonagh.

“These youngsters throughout their lifetimes will benefit more than any of us. It is only appropriate they will recall they participated in making the church more accessible and beautiful,” he said.

To find out more about the renovation project, go to https://williamstowncatholics.org/